Mesopotamia - The Redeemer

by Yehuda Israely

“If the cost is too much for you, I am certain that we can reach a compromise.”

  The boy shot Eo an entreating glance, his eyes pleading, 'Buy me at any price, and just get me out of here.'

  “Thank you, your honor. Obviously, I would not purchase a slave that was outside my price range; however, cost is not my only concern. I need to reconsider my own needs and I shall return to you shortly.”

  “You shan't find healthier or more diligent slaves with any of the other landowners. Just promise me one thing.”

  “And what is that?”

  “That when you return, you state the price that you see fit, before approaching other landowners. They are merciful and their slaves are in turn lazy. You will not find harder working or more obedient slaves in all of Uruk.”

  “I offer you my most heartfelt thanks and shall consider your words positively.”

  “If so, then I am satisfied. Let me escort you back.”

  As they approached the gate of the property, Eo noticed something that had been hidden from him when he arrived. Chained to the stone wall to the right of the gate was a swarthy slave, spread-eagle, back bleeding, streaked with whip lashes and swarming with flies.

  “Who's that?” inquired Eo.

  “A rebellious slave, whose penalty is death.”

  “What is his crime?”

  “Assisting in the escape of a slave.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I have no proof, but the chief taskmaster told me that he was the slave's best friend, so it's impossible that he was not involved in the escape plan. It seems that he pretended to suffer from acute stomach pain and distracted the taskmasters just as his friend was escaping. Slaves are obligated to hand over another slave who is planning to escape the moment the knowledge becomes available to them, and if not, their sentence is death. He was interrogated the entire night and did not admit to anything. I would have let him die last night but I hoped that he would reveal the destination of the escaped slave. We'll leave him here until he talks or until the flies, ants and cattle egrets finish the work for us. Had he talked, he would have been entitled to a quick death by the sword.”

  “Has his friend been captured yet?”

  The question embarrassed Savsesser, who stammered an answer. “He disappeared yesterday and I am sure that by tomorrow night, the slave hunters will have found him, dead or alive.”

  “How did he escape?” Eo felt a sort of satisfaction hearing about the slave's escape and the slave owner's consequent embarrassment.

  “We, uh... we don't know,” stuttered Savsesser.

  “May I examine this slave?”

  “You want to buy a rebellious slave?” Savsesser asked incredulously.

  “I want to examine him,” replied Eo politely but firmly.

  The baffled Savsesser did not know what to say.

  “If you do not wish to sell to me, then I will be on my way.”

  “No, no, please, examine them all,” said the master, coming to his senses.

  Rukha wished he were dead. With each lash of the whip he prayed to die before the next lash. From time to time he sunk into flights of fancy, imagining that he had already died and was meeting Dagon, God of his fathers, crowned with fish scales. Dagon asked him: “Would you still have helped Timin had you known the fate that awaited you?” Sometimes he answered yes and other times no; but then he thought of Timin's abounding loyalty, how he endangered himself time after time on Rukha's behalf. He then settled into contentedness, at peace with his choice and its aftermath.

  'I knew what awaited me,' he thought.

  “What is your name?” He heard Dagon's voice. He was taken aback, since the God surely knows his creations.

  “What is your name?” repeated Dagon.

  “Rukha,” he muttered inaudibly.

  “What? I cannot hear you.”

  “Rukha,” he tried to repeat his name in a louder voice. 'Dagon cannot hear? It cannot be!' The sharp pain in his lacerated back and his weary joints struck him at once as he was jolted back to reality.

  “Rukha?” asked the stranger.

  “Yes,” he replied indifferently, staring into the stranger's eyes.

  Eo knew immediately and without a doubt that that this was the slave he had been looking for.

  “He's practically dead,” Savsesser gestured with his staff toward Rukha.

  “I do not wish to waste more of your time, your honor, and thank you for your hospitality. You may return now to your important occupations. I shall stay another moment with the slave before going on my way, if you do not mind.”

  “As you wish, and like I already said, return to me before you approach the other slave owners. I am certain we can reach a favorable compromise.”

  “Thank you, thank you.” Eo held his breath in hopes of avoiding Savsesser's foul stench as they rubbed noses in parting. Savsesser called to one of his slaves and began limping toward the shaded arbor, supported by a slave and his staff.

  Link to "Mesopotamia – The Healer, the Slave and the prince" book page

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291348